Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

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This Pharmacist (Pharmacy Supervisor) is in Pharmacy services within the White River Junction VA Health Care System located at White River Junction, Vermont.

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

The Pharmacy Supervisor must be a licensed pharmacist responsible for the daily professional and administrative operation of pharmacy services, including monitoring the performance of assigned clinical pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. The incumbent is responsible for coordinating and providing oversight for Pharmacy Service operational activities as assigned, ensuring the provision of drug therapy based on current clinical knowledge that is consistent with policies established at the national, VISN, and local levels. These responsibilities include the daily supervision of staff, management of pharmacy programs, development and implementation of policies and procedures, and management and coordination of services, including highly technical specialized programs using automated dispensing equipment and the management of compounded sterile products (CSP). Additional responsibilities include the oversight and management of pharmacy compliance programs at the VA White River Junction Healthcare System, ensuring adherence to VA policies and procedures as well as federal and state regulations. The role involves auditing, monitoring, training, and implementing programs that protect patient safety and enhance the quality of pharmacy services.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Participates in the development and enforcement of Pharmacy and Health System policies and procedures.
• Provides recommendations and technical counsel to the Pharmacy Service Management Team to effectively meet clinical, procedural, legal and/or administrative requirements that fall within the purview of Pharmacy to facilitate the delivery of high-quality patient care.
• Provides necessary technical knowledge and assistance as required to support the inpatient and outpatient pharmacy operations. The Pharmacy Supervisor will also be expected to willingly exchange ideas, assist and provide support as a "team player" with the pharmacy staff and actively seek and maintain face-to-face contact in the usual work areas with other members of Pharmacy Service.
• Assists in data collection for MUE and participates in quality assurance programs.
• Acts as a liaison between Pharmacy Service and other health care providers.
• Ensure compliance with VA regulations, federal and state laws, Joint Commission standards, DEA regulations and other relevant guidelines.
• Reviews and interpret regulatory changes and communicate updates to pharmacy staff.
• Develop and update polices and procedures to ensure compliance.
  Develops performance standards that are realistic, challenging and support the organizational mission, vision, and goals.
• Ensures that employees meet performance standards and competencies and identifies areas for improvement as needed.
• Manages personnel and works towards resolving all labor relations issues.
• Establishes work schedules and allocates staff as needed to provide adequate coverage. Maintains time and attendance records and approves leave.
• Assesses workload shifts throughout the day, identifying backlogs and makes staffing adjustments as needed to meet organizational goals.
• Develops and establishes policies and procedures defining operational requirements.
• Ensures assigned administrative projects and reports are submitted in a timely fashion.
• Functions under the supervision of the Associate Chief of Pharmacy Service. Works independently but confers with Chief of Pharmacy and Associate Chiefs of Pharmacy Service to resolve particularly problematic issues.
• Works cooperatively and effectively with Chief, Pharmacy Service, Service Line Managers, Service Chiefs, and staff to develop changes in work patterns to improve efficiency or develop patient care/patient education program enhancements.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Rotating Shifts, TBD.

Telework: Ad-Hoc

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: F08512 at GS-13

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact Hannah Neilson at [redacted], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorizes

Financial Disclosure: Not Required

Notifications:

• This position is in the Excepted Service.
• This position is not a Bargaining Unit position.
• This position is covered by a special rate.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education:
  
  • Graduate of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. Verification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois [redacted]; phone: [redacted], or through their Web site at: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.)
  • Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the 2 graduate is able to provide proof of achieving the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Commission (FPGEC) Certification, which includes passing the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT).
• Licensure. Full, current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia. The pharmacist must maintain current registration if this is a requirement for maintaining full, current, and unrestricted licensure.
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

Grade Determinations:

GS- 13 Pharmacist (Pharmacy Supervisor):

Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-12.

AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Ability to effectively supervise subordinate staff.
2. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
3. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards pertaining to pharmacy.
4. Skill in managing people or programs.

Assignment:Pharmacy Supervisor. Responsible for the professional and administrative management of an assigned area in pharmacy service, to include budgetary execution. Such individuals have responsibilities for supervising multiple pharmacists and technicians. Manages people, maintains effective interdepartmental relations, and cooperates with other services to accomplish the medical facility's mission and goals. Develops performance standards, assures that the program area is compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements, designs and implements orientation and training programs for staff, and develops and maintains systems to monitor the performance of staff activities. Develops policies and procedures relative to their assigned area.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook and Directive 5019.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Notifications: (continued)

• Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) will be required from the selectee to proceed with the appointment.
• Current or Former Federal Employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
• Selectee will be required to complete additional forms to proceed with employment process.
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government